State Of Madhya Pradesh vs Vikram Das

The Supreme Court held that the High Court's enhancement of the fine under Section 3(1)(xi) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, from Rs. 500 to Rs. 3000 was permissible; however, the Court clarified that the High Court could not impose a sentence less than the minimum six months imprisonment mandated by the statute. The Court referenced the case of Narendra Champaklal Trivedi v. State of Gujarat, establishing that constitutional powers under Article 142 cannot contravene statutory provisions. The appeal was partly allowed, maintaining the conviction but setting aside the jail sentence already undergone by the respondent.